India win gold in South Asian Beach Games

India won all six games in addition to grabbing a gold and a silver on the second day of the first South Asian Beach Games in the Hambantota southern coastal city of Sri Lanka.

India won in men's football against Maldives 19-13, in men's kabbadi against Nepal 66-33, in women's kabbadi against Bangladesh 57-27, in men's basketball against Maldives 19-13, in women's basketball against Maldives 21-3 and against Nepal 21-6 Sunday.

India also bagged its maiden medal in individual equestrian (tentpegging lance) when Jaswinder Singh Batt won the gold, which was followed by another Indian Jaswinder Singh who won the silver, Xinhua reported.

Nepal was the other country to collect a medal when Dhurba Pradas won the bronze medal in equestrian-tentpegging lance.

Sri Lanka also had a strong presence, winning seven out of nine games.

Sri Lankan women basketballers lost to Maldives 13-11 while the men's kabbadi team lost to Pakistan 52-31. Sri Lanka defeated the Maldives in both men's and women's volleyball, and in football 7-4, and as well as a 12-4 win over Bangladesh in football.

In kabaddi, Sri Lankan men and women defeated Nepal 71-19 and 70-34. In basketball, Sri Lanka made a clear victory against Bhutan 21-7 and their women defeated Nepal 21-6.

Among the other winners, Nepal defeated Afghanistan in volleyball and Maldives in football 5-3. However, Bangladesh defeated Nepal 5-1 in football.

While hoping to win more medals at the inaugural event against tough challenges from India and Pakistan, the hosts also want to promote their bid for hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games against Australia's Gold Coast.